Puppy Training Plan: A Week‑by‑Week Schedule by Age (8 Weeks to 6+ Months)

New pet parents often ask how to build a puppy training plan that actually works. The truth is simple: training a puppy succeeds when you mix a realistic daily routine with short, upbeat lessons and early socialization. This guide maps out a puppy training schedule by age so you know exactly what to teach and when, from 8 weeks through 6+ months. You’ll also learn how to train a puppy using positive methods, prevent common problems, and adapt the plan to your dog’s personality.

Quick Start: What Your Puppy Needs to Learn First

Every effective puppy training plan starts with three pillars:

1) Management & routine. Pups thrive on patterns. Use a crate or playpen, gates, and a consistent schedule for sleep, potty breaks, meals, and play. Structure prevents accidents and keeps tiny explorers safe.

2) Positive reinforcement. Reward what you like calm sits, checking in, pottying outside with food, toys, or praise. End sessions before your pup loses focus. Short, fun lessons build confidence and speed results.

3) Early socialization. During early weeks, introduce safe sights, sounds, handling, and friendly people so your puppy learns the world is a good place. Pair every new thing with treats and let your pup choose distance.

Keep sessions short (2–5 minutes), repeat often, and celebrate small wins. You’re building habits, not cramming for an exam.

Tools & Set‑Up Checklist

A smooth puppy training plan starts with the right gear:

• Flat collar or well‑fitted harness; 4–6 ft leash
• Crate and/or playpen; baby gates for management
• Soft training treats; food pouch; chew toys (varied textures)
• Clicker or a clear marker word (“Yes!”)
• Lick mats or stuffed food toys for calm downtime
• Enzymatic cleaner for accidents; poop bags; portable water bowl

Create a puppy‑safe zone. Remove hazards, tuck cables, and block rooms you can’t supervise. Place the crate in a quiet spot where your puppy can still see you during the day.

Daily Rhythm: Sample Puppy Training Schedule (8–12 Weeks)

Use this flexible puppy training schedule as a starting point. Adjust for breed, size, and energy.

6:30–7:00 AM: Outside for potty → breakfast → calm chew while you prep the day.

7:30 AM: Short leash walk in quiet area or backyard sniffari.

8:00 AM: 3–5 min training (name, sit, touch/hand target) → nap in crate.

10:00 AM: Potty break → play → 2–3 min training (come, swap/”trade”) → nap.

12:30 PM: Potty → lunch → gentle handling (paws, ears) + brush 30–60 sec → nap.

3:00 PM: Potty → play with Puzzle/lick mat → 3–5 min training (leave it) → nap.

5:30 PM: Potty → dinner → short walk → settle practice on mat.

8:00 PM: Potty → quiet play → 2–3 min recall games in hallway.

Bedtime: Final potty; into crate with safe chew for 10–15 minutes before lights out.

New puppies nap a lot. Protect sleep so they can learn. If your pup gets wild, they’re tired guide them to a nap.

Puppy Training Timeline by Age

Use this puppy training timeline as your roadmap. Progress is not linear, so move forward at your puppy’s pace.

8–10 Weeks: Foundation & Bonding

Goals

• Build trust through gentle handling and predictable routines.
• Start house training and crate training.
• Teach name, hand target (“touch”), and a casual sit.

Focus Skills

• Name response: Say the name once; reward any eye contact. Repeat in different rooms.
• Potty routine: Outside after waking, after meals, after play, and every 1–2 hours.
• Crate = good things: Toss treats inside; feed meals near or in the crate; short calm naps.
• Handling: Pair brief touches of paws, ears, tail with treats. Stop before your pup wriggles.
• Calm chewing: Offer safe chews to meet teething needs and protect furniture.

Socialization ideas (always pair with treats): people with hats or glasses, different floor textures, car rides, doorbells, recorded sounds at low volume. Keep it upbeat; give space when your puppy hesitates.

Red flags

• Constant fear or freezing around everyday sights
• Repeated potty accidents with no progress
• Refusal to eat or lethargy → call your vet

10–12 Weeks: Basic Manners & Tiny Walks

Goals

• Strengthen house training and crate naps.
• Add leash introduction, recall games, and “leave it.”
• Encourage gentle play, bite inhibition, and short alone‑time practice.

Focus Skills

• Leash intro: Clip indoors first. Reward your pup for walking near you for just a few steps.
• Recall (“come”) in hallways: One person holds; the other calls once and rewards big.
• Leave it & trade: Exchange a toy for a treat; return the toy after calm behavior.
• Settle on a mat: Feed small treats for lying down quietly on a designated spot.

Alone‑time reps

• Start with seconds, not minutes. Scatter treats in the playpen; step out and return before whining starts. Gradually extend.

Pro tip

• Rotate toys and chews to keep your pup curious, not overwhelmed.

12–16 Weeks: Classes, Confidence & Control

Goals

• Join a positive‑reinforcement puppy class when your vet says it’s safe.
• Expand socialization to include gentle, vaccinated dogs and new environments.
• Introduce impulse control sit before doors, wait for food, brief “stays.”

Focus Skills

• Loose‑leash basics: Reward position at your side; change direction often.
• Stay (1–3 seconds): Build success in tiny increments; release with a cheerful word.
• Drop it: Trade quickly and give the item back occasionally to prevent guarding.
• Grooming practice: Daily 30–60 second sessions for brushing, teeth touch, and nail handling.

Out & about

• Visit parking lots, outdoor cafes, and stores that allow dogs. Keep distance at first. Reward calm observation, not constant saying hello.

Watch for the “fear period.” Your confident pup may suddenly startle at new things. Shrink the challenge, add treats, and keep outings short.

4–6 Months: The Teenage Phase Begins

Goals

• Expect a focus dip. Keep lessons short and upbeat.
• Strengthen recall, leash skills, and calm greetings.
• Add enrichment to burn mental energy.

Focus Skills

• Real‑world recall: Practice on a long line in safe spaces. Reward like it’s a party.
• Leave it, again: Proof around food on the counter, dropped items, and wildlife smells.
• Polite greetings: Ask for a sit before people say hello. If your pup jumps, step back and try again.
• Settle anywhere: Take a mat to friends’ houses or parks; reward calm.

Energy management

• Use sniff walks, puzzle feeders, and short training bursts. Over‑exercise is not the answer; smart exercise is.

6–12 Months: Proof, Generalize & Maintain

Goals

• Keep practicing in new places with new distractions.
• Transition from constant food rewards to a variable schedule.
• Maintain manners during adolescence.

Focus Skills

• Distraction ladder: Start easy, then add one difficulty layer at a time new location, new person, new dog.
• Variable reinforcement: Sometimes a treat, sometimes praise or play. Keep rewards valuable for the hardest reps.
• House rules on autopilot: Doors, food bowls, and car exits all start with a sit and eye contact.

Proofing & Progress: Make Good Habits Stick

One cue, one action. Say a cue once, then help your puppy succeed. Repeating teaches them to ignore you.

Three Ds: Distance, Duration, Distraction. Change only one at a time so your pup can win. If they struggle, lower the difficulty.

Reinforce real life. Pay your puppy for lying quietly while you work, choosing you over a squirrel, or checking in on walks. Daily life offers the best practice.

Track wins. A simple note in your phone “10‑sec stay in kitchen,” “came away from kids at park” keeps you motivated and objective.

Troubleshooting: Common Hurdles (and Quick Fixes)

Mouthing & nipping

• Offer a chew immediately; freeze briefly if teeth touch skin; resume play when calm.
• Avoid rough play that amps your puppy up. Teach tug with rules: “take it,” “drop,” “all done.”

Pulling on leash

• Be a tree when the leash tightens; move forward when it loosens. Reinforce walking near your side. Use a harness that protects the neck.

Barking for attention

• Reward quiet with treats or access to you. Ignore demand barking; pay calm behaviors generously.

Accidents indoors

• Go back to basics: more outdoor trips, less freedom, better supervision. Clean with enzyme spray.

Separation struggles

• Build solo time in seconds, not minutes. Use food puzzles to make departures feel positive.

Selective hearing outdoors

• Use a long line and jackpot-level rewards. Practice “come” when your puppy least expects it then throw a short party.

House Training & Crate: 7‑Day Micro‑Plan

Day 1–2: Take your puppy out first thing, after naps, after meals, after play, and every 60–90 minutes. Walk to the same grass spot, stand still, and quietly wait. The moment they finish, praise and give a tiny treat. Indoors, use a crate or playpen between breaks to prevent accidents.

Day 3–4: Stretch the interval to 90–120 minutes if your pup is staying dry. Add a simple cue like “go potty” as they begin, then reward. Track times in your phone to find patterns.

Day 5–6: Start short “freedom trials” after successful potty trips. Give one room to explore for 10 minutes, then return to the pen for a calm chew. If an accident happens, shorten freedom and add an extra break.

Day 7: Test a nap in the crate after a play session and potty break. Offer a stuffed food toy so your puppy associates the crate with relaxation.

Quick reset: If you see sniff‑circle‑squat indoors, scoop your puppy up and head outside. Reward any outdoor finish. Clean indoor spots with enzyme spray.

Socialization Checklist: 12 Easy Wins

• People with hats, beards, or sunglasses (treat for calm looks)
• Wheelchairs, strollers, scooters at a distance
• Different surfaces: tile, carpet, rubber mats, wet grass
• Household sounds at low volume: blender, hair dryer, vacuum
• Car rides to quiet parking lots; treat for hopping in and out
• Gentle handling: open mouth, touch paws, lift ears
• Umbrellas opening; wobble board or step stool
• City sights from afar: buses, construction cones, crosswalk beeps
• Bikes and joggers passing (treat while they go by)
• Friendly, vaccinated adult dog through a gate first, then brief sniff
• Children playing at a park (no touching unless pup is calm and eager)
• Vet‑style handling on a table or mat with peanut‑butter smears

Reinforcement Schedules: When to Fade Treats

At first, pay every correct response. That clear feedback jump‑starts learning. As behaviors become reliable in easy locations, shift to a mix of rewards sometimes food, sometimes praise or a quick tug game. Save the highest‑value treats for the hardest versions: new places, bigger distractions, or longer durations. If performance dips, go back to paying every success for a short burst, then fade again.

FAQs

1) How to train a puppy that won’t focus? Keep sessions to 2–3 minutes, use high‑value treats, and train after a potty break. If your pup still struggles, move to a quieter room and reduce distractions. End on a win.

2) What’s the best length for a session when training puppies? Aim for several micro‑sessions each day. Two to five minutes is plenty for beginners. Stop before your pup wanders or lies down.

3) How do I build a puppy training schedule by age if my dog learns quickly? Use the timeline as a guide, not a race. Advance a week when your pup performs a skill five times in a row in two different rooms. Then test it in a new place.

4) When can I start walks? Begin with short leash sessions at home right away. Outside walks happen after your vet advises it’s safe for your area. Start in low‑distraction spots and keep them short.

Final Takeaway

A consistent puppy training plan transforms chaos into calm. Follow the puppy training schedule here, celebrate progress, and keep lessons short, positive, and frequent. As you stick with this puppy training timeline, manners become habits and your playful pup becomes a confident companion.